Two traffic fatalities in third quarter

There were two traffic fatalities in the third quarter this year, the National Statistics Office said.

It said that the number of reported traffic accidents reached 3,557, or 5.3 per cent less than in the same quarter last year.

A total 430 traffic casualties were reported, of which 244 involved drivers. This group included 198 injuries which were slight and 45 grievous. The injuries sustained by a male driver proved fatal.

Another 51 people - 21 passengers and 30 pedestrians, suffered grievous injuries, while 134 - 82 passengers and 52 pedestrians, were slightly injured. The injuries sustained by a male pedestrian proved fatal.

A total 72.6 per cent of traffic casualties were caused by passenger cars, followed by motorcycles at 17.2 per cent, and 6.5 per cent by goods-carrying vehicles.

In the third quarter, the highest traffic casualty rate occurred on Mondays, accounting for 17.9 per cent of total casualties. The highest number of accidents was recorded on Fridays, totalling 583 cases, and the lowest on Sundays, with 392 cases.

Birkirkara registered the highest rate of traffic accidents, with 217 cases followed by St Paul's Bay and Qormi, with 193 and 166 reported accidents, respectively.